FixAmerica’s Response to Linkedin Question on Energy Independence

Pickens plan is a step in the right direction. His plan is spot-on in pushing for existing and alternative fuel technology.

For automobiles, the his plan to use Compressed Natural Gas is do-able. For power generation, his wind plan is also a win.

The problem is that there is no ONE solution to meet the fuel needs of the automobiles we drive, and the energy we require to power our homes and businesses.

The country, and each state need a comprehensive multi-pronged approach to ween ourselves off ouf gasoline. Here is how:

1) We need to abandon corn-based ethanol. Ethanol is 3-percent fuel efficient (compared to gasoline). It is also causing corn-based food products to increase in fuel prices, and increased distribution costs of all products due the 3-percent fuel inefficiency.

2) For automobiles, we need to increase our use diesel based cars while we expand our options with hybrid (gas-electric), compressed natural gas, electric fuel cell, hydrogen fuel cell, h20, etc.

Note: Diesel is 50% percent more fuel efficient than gasoline, and can be easily adapted into our existing infrastructure NOW with the changeover of and expansion of tanks at fuel (gas) stations. Diesel will also allow the opportunity to use bio-diesel options (e.g. vegetable oil, clean diesel from coal, etc).

Diesel cars are already existing in Europe (even by US nameplates). Simply build them here – no engineering costs required. For example, Opel Vectra (corporate cousing to Saturn Aura) runs on 4-cyl diesel and has 50% higher gas mileage than American cousin, Saturn Aura V-6 gasoline engine.

Pickens’ plan to implement Compressed Natural Gas is probably the next easiest to do. The key is that is also domestically made which helps our country in job creation and retention and re-investment into new CNG plants and projects.

3) For power generation for homes, business, etc, we need a diverse multi-faceted plan to implement widespread use of solar and wind energy.

Wind energy via wind farms should be implemented where ever possible – wind is a renewable energy.

Solar power (solar panels, solar shingles) should be implemented and standard on new homes and commercial construction projects (e.g. office buildings, schools, government buildings, churches, etc). The cost of implementation to the property owner can be amortized over the cost of mortgage loan, and reduced through existing federal and state grants.

Links:

• http://www.dieselforum.org/